Artwork
Baeker
Baeker is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin. It dates from 1799 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Created in 1799, this small black-and-white print measures just over five and a half centimeters on each side.
About this work
Overview
The work is part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection and exemplifies the intimate scale of personal portraiture in the late eighteenth century.
Created in 1799, this small black-and-white print measures just over five and a half centimeters on each side. It presents a tightly framed portrait of the German‑American artist and engraver Baeker, rendered by the French printmaker Charles B. J. Févret de Saint‑Mémin. The work is part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection and exemplifies the intimate scale of personal portraiture in the late eighteenth century.
Subject & Meaning
The image captures Baeker, a figure active in transatlantic artistic circles, in a dignified yet unembellished pose. By focusing on the sitter’s face and shoulders, the print emphasizes his professional identity as an engraver, suggesting a respect for the craft and the individual’s role within the emerging American art scene of the period.
Technique & Style
Executed through a combination of mezzotint and engraving, the print employs the tonal richness of mezzotint alongside the precise line work of engraving. This hybrid approach allows for subtle gradations of shadow and crisp detailing, giving the portrait a three‑dimensional quality despite its modest size. The use of wove paper, mounted on a brown backing, enhances the depth of the black ink.
History & Provenance
Signed and dated 1799, the print was produced by Saint‑Mémin, a noted French artist who spent time in the United States. It later entered the holdings of the National Gallery of Art, where it remains catalogued under the title Baeker. The work’s provenance reflects the cross‑cultural exchanges between European printmakers and American artists at the turn of the nineteenth century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin
Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin (French pronunciation: ; 1770–1852) was a French portrait painter and museum director.
